From: Mark Burwinkel [nature_dude5@yahoo.com]
Sent: Sunday, March 11, 2001 11:46 AM
To: FDADockets@oc.fda.gov
Please support the petition to prohibit the slaughter
of downed animals.
Downed animals are those animals too sick or injured
to stand.
Animals too sick to even stand should not enter the
human food chain, due to the increased risk of
bacterial contamination, and evidence that some
downed cows may even be afflicted with a form of
bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or "Mad Cow
Disease".
There is no humane way to move a downed animal; they
are typically dragged with chains, or lifted with a
forklift, causing suffering and further injuries.
Downed animals comprise a very small percentage of
animals slaughtered, and prohibiting their marketing
would cause no undue economic hardship.
In fact, removing the market for downed animals would
encourage better treatment and handling, thus
preventing most downers in the first place.
There is growing consensus for such a prohibition,
even among livestock industry and government
officials.
Numerous beef, dairy, and pork industry
representatives have voiced support for such a
prohibition.
Mark J Burwinkel
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